Bradford LINk
Connect and make a difference
About Bradford LINk
Bradford LINk works with people and organisations to make positive change happen in health and social care services in the district.
We do this by:
- Bringing people together who have the same concerns. They can share knowledge and experience and work together to make change happen
Success Story! Some people told Bradford LINk that there is not enough support in the district for people over the age of 50 with depression. We helped them start a group to raise awareness of this problem and campaign for change. Positive Minds is now a group of people who meet regularly to work together to make change happen.
- Introducing people to decision-makers so their voices influence plans.
Success Story! The ASC work group is directly influencing plans for people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions in the district. The things they have said at their meetings have been used by commissioners to write the Local Autism Strategy
- We support people to influence how services are run
Success Story! Workers at GP surgeries and other health professionals are getting training on understanding HIV. We worked with The Our Project to tell NHS Bradford and Airedale about people's experiences using health services in the district
- We step in when there's a problem to make sure people using services and the people running them work together to solve issues
Success Story! People who use Whetley Hill Resource Centre came to us because they were worried their voices were not being heard in conversations about the future of the centre. We listened to their concerns and talked to the council. Now everyone is working together to make sure everybody is involved in choosing the options about what might happen.
The Government has given Bradford LINk certain powers to help it do its job. This means health and social care services have to listen and take action. We can
Question the people in charge of health and social care services in the district. They have to give us a response within 20 working days
Refer issues to the council and get a response within 20 working days
Make comments on the Quality Accounts that health providers publish every year about their services. LINk comments must be included in the report.
Send our Authorised Representatives, who a trained members of the public, to Enter and View services like hospitals, GPs surgeries and care homes to make sure they're doing a good job
How does Bradford LINk work?
There is a small support group of paid staff, which works with people and organisations to make positive change happen in health and social care services in the district.
The advisory group is made up of people actively working with Bradford LINk's on health and social care issues in the district. They meet to make sure the support team is doing its job and that Bradford LINk is making an impact on health and social care services in the district.
Who can be part of Bradford LINk?
Anyone and everyone! You don't need lots of time to be part of the Bradford LINk because you can do as much or as little as you want. And it doesn't matter if you've never been involved in trying to make things better for your community before. In fact, we're particularly keen to hear from people whose voice has never been heard before.